Buffalo Bills Battles: Kansas City Chiefs
As the 2012 NFL Draft is now behind us, its time to take an in depth look at the Buffalo Bills 2012 opponents. In this series I will examine each of our 13 opponents off season moves as well as take a look at what their team looks like heading into the 2012 season.
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs
Off Season Free Agent Signings and Losses
Signed:
CB Stanford Routt
QB Brady Quinn
RB Peyton Hillis
OT Eric Winston
TE Kevin Boss
Re-signed:
CB Travis Daniels
ILB Jovan Belcher
NT Amon Gordon
TE Jake O’Connell
Lost:
Cut ILB Demorrio Williams
Steelers sign TE Leonard Pope
Chargers sign FB Le’Ron McClain
Cowboys sign CB Brandon Carr
Cowboys sign QB Kyle Orton
Remaining UFA’s:
OT Barry Richardson
DE Wallace Gilberry
S Jon McGraw
RB Jackie Battle
RB Thomas Jones
TE Anthony Becht
S Sabby Piscitelli
WR Jerheme Urban
Franchise Tag:
WR Dwayne Bowe
2012 Draft Selections
11. Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
44. Jeff Allen, G, Illinois
74. Donald Stephenson, OT, Oklahoma
107. Devon Wylie, WR, Fresno State
146. DeQuan Menzie, CB/S, Alabama
182. Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
218. Jerome Long, DT, San Diego State
238. Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan
Summery
Amongst the changes for the KC Chiefs this year has been the promotion of Romeo Crannel from Defensive Coordinator to Head Coach. He is the polar opposite of Todd Haley who was relieved of his duties late last season. Crannel is more of a player’s coach, who as it was evident during his interim coaching stint; his player’s will fight for. Crannel is bestknown as an excellent Defensive Coordinator, time will tell how he does as a Head Coach this go around. I’m sure Chiefs fans are hoping he fairs better than he did in Cleveland.
One of the biggest off season questions for Kansas City is the status of one Dwayne Bowe. No one can doubt the level of talent Bowe has and what he means to the Chiefs passing attack. As of the end of April NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that Bowe has no intention of signing his $9.5 million tender. Only time will tell how this one will play out.
Kansas City will see the return of Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, and Eric Berry from season ending injuries. With the additions of Eric Winston and their second and third round draft choices, Kansas City is doing what they can to improve their offensive line and to keep Cassel up right.
Speculation from Kansas City is that Jamaal Charles and free agent acquisition Peyton Hillis could share the work load in the Chiefs backfield. Let’s not forget that Hillis was the Chiefs first free agent signing of this year’s free agency period. Hillis is a power back with good hands out of the backfield. I wouldn’t be surprised to see packages where Hillis lined up as the full back with Charles as the running back.
The Week 2 match up with the Chiefs will be Buffalo’s home opener. I’m interested to see the match up with CB Stanford Routt as he had a free agent visit to One Bills Drive before signing a very nice contract with KC. As an added story line, S Eric Berry has publically questioned if he was a victim of a bounty as he was placed on season ending injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in last years 41-7 loss to Buffalo in Kansas City. Buffalo’s new look defense will get a good test against two great running backs in this week 2 match-up; it will be interesting to see how much the run defense for the Bills has actually improved.